Hey D2,
So what exactly differentiates the ReefLink from a controller like the Apex? I can program my equipment and can manipulate modes and operation remotely - which is what i use my apex for. I can also turn the Ecotech devices on and off, it's just done through the device's software and the cloud, and not through an outlet that i can turn on and off. The main difference i can see, is that i cannot program an Ecotech device to respond independently to a change in operation odd a different Ecotech device. For instance (and arbitrarily), i cannot program my Vectra to change speed automatically when my vortech speed is adjusted manually.
Well we may be getting a bit into semantics, but like I was saying before, the ReefLink itself... the white box with the blue light on it... is nothing more than a "link" between your Ecotech equipment and EcoSmartLive (Ecotech's cloud service). The ReefLink allows your equipment to talk to ESL. Your equipment can run/function in normal daily use without ReefLink. You can also sign into ESL on your browser, from anywhere in the world, and make changes to your programming. But those changes can't be sent to your equipment without ReefLink.
ESL would be the "controller". This is where the programming is done and it's ESL that is sending the commands to your equipment, indirectly through the ReefLink and your WiFi. Now, this may somewhat come down to personal opinion, but this is a bit limiting compared to an actual controller like Neptune or GHL, because these controllers are ALWAYS connected to your tank and it's equipment. If my WiFi goes down, my tank still functions as normal. For instance, if it's time for my doser to dose, it will do so, WiFi or not, because the main controller is still connected and sending commands. Heaters will still come and and off. Yes, your Vortechs would continue to function as normal without the WiFi connection. Any of your Ecosmart equipment would because their internal brain has already been programmed through ESL. But what about non-Ecotech equipment? I may be wrong, but it seems to me that if things were to continue as they are now, Ecotech would need to make a device to replace every device on your tank, all of which communicate with ESL. Doser, heater, etc.
What would make the ReefLink more of a functional controller would be if there were power bars available to plug the equipment into and then a link between those power bars to ReefLink. This way any old heater could be plugged into the power bars and then controlled via ESL. All programming would be done through ESL and sent to the power bars via ReefLink.
This just scares me though. I like that my GHL is a physical box, physically connected to all my equipment. I could lose internet all together and still have basic control over my tank.
This is an interesting discussion.
I'm the farthest thing from an engineer so maybe some others will chime in, but that's my 2 cents.
